101 Classical Music CDs

It's cheating to use the word impressionist when describing Debussy's music, and yet it's a simple fact that Debussy's piano compositions sound just as impressionistic as his orchestral compositions. Today's Preludes are stunning and vivid--they have splashes of wild color, strange chords, strange melodies and weirdly unorthodox techniques. This guy is a true rule-breaker, no matter what instrument he works with. ********************** Krystian Zimerman, piano Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Claude Debussy: Préludes Deutsche Grammophon, 1994 [2 CDs] ********************** Until today, I had only experienced Debussy's La Mer and Images , both of which are orchestral works which are at times is so vivid that you can literally almost see the music (the first movement of La Mer is an excellent example of this). The Preludes for piano are equally vivid, but I'd argue that at times Debussy's special effects and musical gadgets interfere with the music itself. I...

"I love music passionately. And because I love it I try to free it from barren traditions that stifle it." --Claude Debussy Today we'll listen for the first time to Debussy, one of the greatest rule-breakers in all of classical music. ********************** Los Angeles Philharmonic/Boston Symphony Orchestra Claude Debussy (1862-1918) La Mer; Images Deutsche Grammophon, 1971/1980 ********************** If you enjoy vivid musical imagery, this is a composer you should get to know. And if you enjoy salacious personal details, you'll want to read all about the controversies of Debussy's personal life (an example: not one, but two of his jilted lovers attempted suicide by shooting themselves after he left them. Both recovered). Fairly or unfairly, Debussy has been labeled an "impressionist"--many listeners consider his music to be an auditory representation of the well-known painting movement. I'll offer my own impression: if we have to define Debussy...